Blogging | But I Smile Anyway...

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 229

14 Jul 2019 38 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, blog posr, Blogger, Blogging, inspiration, Serene, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

“I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness because it shows me the stars.”
Og Mandino

Many thanks, Spidey, for that thought provoking quote.

It’s easy to chug along with your plans for life, especially when everything is going your way.

Not so simple when it feels like everything is going against your every wish.

The above quote really made me think.

Because recently, certain dreams of mine have been put on hold, in order to realise others.

I feel like I am living a life of light and darkness at the same time.

Light, with my professional life, finally knowing I have my own class, but also fretting as I have a lot to set up in my classroom, and I can’t wait for school to end so I can make my mark!

Dark with my writing, but I know it is not a good time to finish my editing. I can’t give it a half hearted effort, after all this time I’ve spent, coaxing it out into the world. The stars are there though, showing me the way. I know I will get there, but it’s just not knowing quite when…

So… tell me, do you have light and dark sections in your life?

#SoCS July 13/19 – Instructions

13 Jul 2019 34 Comments

by Ritu in #SoCS Tags: #SoCS, #StreamofConsciousnessSaturday, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Instructions, Socs

Linda’s #SoCS prompt this week:

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “instructions.” Write instructions for anything you know how to do. As detailed or as rambling as you’d like. Enjoy!

Instructions For How ~~Not~~ To Write A Book

Have a brilliant idea
Start writing it
Spend 18 years snatching moments to write
Finally type The End
Realise that is not the end really
Reread.
Rewrite
Reread
Rewrite
Get readers
Rewrite
Try and submit to agents
Feel down, then perk up when you remember J.K. Rowling and Stephen King had many rejections
Find an editor
Get excited and look at cover possibilities
Read feedback from editor
Cringe
Rewrite
Reread
Tentatively send out to next set of readers

This is when it can go one of a few ways.

You find an agent, and get a fantastic publishing deal! Yay!
You find your mailbox cluttered with rejections and you decided to give up… Don’t!
You look at the possibility of Self/Indie Publishing, find a fantastically supportive community and find your success that way! Double Yay!

I’m at the post Editor feedback rewriting stage now. Thankfully there weren’t as many cringes as I thought there would be… It’s just crazy trying to find time to finish the rewrite!

Hopefully it won’t be long before I can announce something postive about this book!!!

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS July 13/19

July 11: Flash Fiction Challenge – Koala’s Kingdom

12 Jul 2019 31 Comments

by Ritu in #CarrotRanch Tags: 99-Word Fiction, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Carrot Ranch, Charli Mills, Flash Fiction

Charli’s Carrot Ranch 99-word Fiction Challenge

July 11, 2019, prompt: “My kingdom for a koala!” In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about a koala in a kingdom. You can create a character out of Norah’s koala and give it a Vermont adventure. Or you can make up a story however you want! Can you pull off a BOTS (based on a true story)? Go where the prompt leads!

Koala’s Kingdom
A parcel had arrived, covered with Australian postmarks.
‘Oh, how thoughtful,’ Ritu smiled at the generosity of her cousins.
The baby was only a few weeks old, and a package rammed full of gifts for her and her son had been sent to her.
Books, clothes, little fur boots, and a tiny koala for baby to snuggle with.
Soon his cot became crowded with soft toys, so Ritu had to move them.
A small hammock was constructed where the myriad toys sat, with Koala right at the front.
He was totally happy, high up, able to survey his kingdom.

Based on a true story. When Lil Man was born, we did indeed receive a little stuffed Koala toy!

July 11: Flash Fiction Challenge

Castle #writephoto

12 Jul 2019 31 Comments

by Ritu in #WritePhoto Tags: #WritePhoto, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Castle, Photo Prompt, Sue Vincent

Sue’s #WritePhoto prompt this week:

Beauty Sleeps

“Oh! Well, erm, it’s not very big, is it?” Sleeping Beauty eyed up what was to be her new home.

Phillip looked from his humble abode towards his new bride. He knew Sleeping Beauty had hight expectations. He’d seen her own home.

It wasn’t just a castle, but a palace of mamouth proportions.

Yet this was his home. It wasn’t his fault that his kingdom was small, so required a smaller than average castle.

But he was most definitely a Prince.

And he deserved his Princess.

She’d looked so beautiful, lying there in that glass casket, he just had to wake her. And when those creepy dwarves came bouncing out, his first instinct was to draw his sword, to protect his new found Princess, until she went all gooey after setting eyes on them.

They had some funny names… Sleepy, Dopey, Grumpy, to name a few. And there were a lot of them.

It turned out they had been protecting her.

She was still staring at his castle with a look of slight disdane upon her face.

Hang on a minute, Phillip thought. She had been living with those little people in a cottage that was about the size of one of the small cupboards in his castle. How could she complain about his home?

“Big enough for us to be happy, my love. Big enough.”

Thursday photo prompt: Castle #writephoto

The Liebster Award

11 Jul 2019 31 Comments

by Ritu in Awards, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, grateful, Leibster Award

Many thanks to It’s Me For You Blog for nominating me for a Leibster Award!

I have received this before, so am reblogging in gratitude, however, I’ll answer the questions, as they are some good ones!

1.How important is Wi-Fi for you? Is warm running water or wireless internet more important? That’s a toughie! I definitely love my WiFi, but then I have a good data amount on my mobile, so I could, I guess, do away with WiFi if I had to, but warm running water is a must for my bubble baths!
2. Name your favourite blogger (any genre) There are just too many to mention just one!
3.If you have to pick a place to settle down forever, where would it be and why? Anywhere my loved ones are.
4.What is one silly moment you’ve had that you’d like to share? My life tends to be a collection of silly moments… hard to choose just one!
5. What is your favorite trait about yourself? My positivity
6. What is your favorite time of day? First thing in the morning when I feel like every day is the start of something good!
7.Tell us your favorite food/cuisine. I love a good reast dinner!
8. Name three destinations you would like to visit once in your lifetime. Australian, The Bahamas and Disney World, Florida!
9. If you could change something in the world, what would it be? Acceptance between all.
10. What are you most passionate about? Teaching my Early Years children and writing.
11. What is so special about your blog? It’s a place you will find no pretences. And you are pretty sure to find something you like. From Fiction to poetry, real life to the absurd, recipes and book reviews and all manner of posts in between!

Check out THE LEIBSTER AWARD